Urges DEP to reduce coyote population in NJ.

AR127

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 127

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� DAWN FANTASIA

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

SYNOPSIS

���� Urges DEP to reduce coyote population in NJ.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Assembly
Resolution

respectfully urging the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to reduce the State�s coyote
population.

Whereas,

A coyote is a dog-like wild animal that was first prevalent in the western
United States before it migrated east; and

Whereas,

After breeding with wolves, eastern coyotes now have more color variation than
western coyotes and are larger than western coyotes, weighing between 30 and 50
pounds; and

Whereas,

Coyotes often carry diseases, four of which are only transmissible to animals,
such as domestic pets, and four of which are transmissible to humans and
animals; and

Whereas,

Coyotes generally fear and avoid humans but may habituate, or lose their
natural fear of humans, when humans intentionally feed coyotes; and

Whereas,

Habituated and diseased coyotes are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior
and attack humans and domestic pets; and

Whereas,

The frequency of coyote attacks against adults, children, livestock, and
domestic cats and dogs has increased across the United States and Canada in
recent years; and

Whereas,

Coyote attacks on children are particularly dangerous and often lead to serious
injuries; and

Whereas,

Since 1980, the number of coyote sightings in New Jersey has increased
significantly, and a coyote has been sighted in 400 municipalities and every
county in New Jersey; and

Whereas,

The risk that a coyote will attack a human or domestic pet increases as the
interactions between humans and coyotes in the State increase due to the coyote
population expanding into urban and suburban areas; and

Whereas,

The Division of Fish and Wildlife in the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection is responsible for managing wildlife, including coyotes, and
wildlife habitats in the State; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The Division of Fish and
Wildlife in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is
respectfully urged to reduce the coyote population in New Jersey.

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor,
the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and the Director of the Division
of Fish and Wildlife.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution respectfully
urges the Division of Fish and Wildlife (Division) in the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) to reduce the coyote population in New
Jersey.

���� Coyotes, a dog-like wild
animal, migrated to eastern states, such as New Jersey, from their natural
habitat in the western United States.� Eastern coyotes have more color
variation than western coyotes and, because they bred with wolves, are larger
than western coyotes.

���� Coyotes may carry a variety of
diseases, some of which can be transmitted to humans, and may lose their
natural fear of humans through habituation.� Most often, coyotes habituate when
they are fed by humans.� Both habituated and diseased coyotes are more likely
to attack humans and domestic pets.� In recent years, the frequency of coyote
attacks throughout the United States has increased.� Coyotes will attack adults,
children, livestock, and domestic cats and dogs.� Coyote attacks on children
are particularly vicious and often lead to serious injury.

���� In New Jersey, the number of
coyote sightings has increased since 1980 and coyotes have been sighted in each
of the State�s 21 counties.� As coyotes have expanded their habitat into urban
and suburban areas, humans and coyotes increasingly interact and the potential
for coyote attacks in the State has increased.

���� In New Jersey, the Division of
Fish and Wildlife in DEP is responsible for protecting wildlife and protecting
the public from the dangers of wildlife.� Accordingly, the Division should take
steps to protect the public from coyotes in the State.